The apparent leader of a bizarre vegan transgender cult, the Zizians — which has been linked to six killings across the country, including the murder of a Border Patrol agent — interrupted a judge at his hearing Monday to say he’ll starve unless he’s given vegan food in jail.
Jack “Ziz” LaSota, 34 — who identifies as a woman and uses she/her pronouns —
was arrested with followers Michelle Zajko, 33, and Daniel Blank, 26, in rural Frostburg, Maryland, on Sunday.
The trio appeared in Allegany County Courthouse in Cumberland on Tuesday morning and were all held without bail.
Prosecutor James Elliot told the judge the Zizians are extremists and dangerous and are “believed to be involved in multiple homicides.” The prosecutor added that LaSota “appears to be the leader” of the group.
At one point, LaSota interrupted the hearing, blurting out to the judge: “I might starve to death if you do not intervene.
“I need the jail to be ordered to have a vegan diet,” LaSota said,
according to a report by the Baltimore Banner. “It’s more important than whatever this hearing is.”
“I shouldn’t be here, I haven’t done anything wrong,” LaSota, appearing by video, told the judge at the hearing,
according to a post on X by reporter Andy Ngo.
Judge Erich Bean ordered LaSota thrown behind bars, saying that he poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk.